Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land piratePitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
History
Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land pirate
Pitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
Copeland, James, 1823-1857; Criminals -- Gulf States -- Biography
The organization of the Wages and Copeland Clan embraced a diversified
talent of an extraordinary grade in different departments of
operations. It commanded some of the ablest ability belonging to
the bar and the medical profession, with other agents who could be
hired or engaged for temporary assistance. It requires more than a
cursory contemplation to anything like a full comprehension of the
lengths, and breadths, and depths of its vast theaters of operations.
Many, perhaps, not admitted to the council and secret conclaves of
the organization, could be engaged for a stipulated sum to perform
important services in defense and protection of its active members, who
might inwardly condemn its pernicious fields of operations against the
best interests of society. Whether such conduct can stand the test of
reason and argument it is for others, with the reader, to determine.
The worse the case the richer the fees for the lawyer, and so of the
medical profession. As frequently happens, the lawyer scruples at
nothing to win a victory for his client. In some places this course is
fashionable and not at all odious. As long as the attorney keeps his
defense within legitimate bounds, and avails himself of every lawful
opportunity for the advantage of his client, no well-balanced mind can
be disposed to censure, because on the other side, the prosecution will
do the same. But when foul and corrupt means are resorted to; when the
most vicious and depraved of actions are brought in play to screen the
guilty and make crime respectable, then it is that public sentiment
should be loud against such abominations, no matter whether against
the medical or legal profession, or against any other class who can be
brought to perform the services of infamy.
The period betwixt the imprisonment and execution of James Copeland,
three parties from Alabama came and settled in Perry county, Miss.,
one in, and the other two about Augusta. These three performed their
part so well—so concealed and reserved as to pass for gentlemen in
the highest degree respectable. But few, if any, had suspicion until
afterward of their object to assist the captured in escaping the last
penalties of outraged law.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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